Carton-machine.



- Patented Nov. I8, |902.

W. E. REULING.

CARTON `MACHINE.

( Application fnlud Dec. 2, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet l,

(No Model.)

m. 7|4,u32. 'Patented Nav; Isjlsoz.

w. neuLmG. CARTON MACHINE.

3 sheets-sheet '2.

(No Model.)

. gnwntu Patented Nov. la, |902. w. E. REuLlNG. y

CARTON MACHINE,

Application filed Dec. 2, 1901,)

(No Model.)

@www K In: Noam: warms un. PHOTO-LITRO.. WASNINGYON. n, Q

Y NETE armarA VALTER E. REULING,

CARTON- OF MUSCATINE, IOWA.

MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,032, dated November 18, 1902.

Application led December 2, 1901. Serial No. 84,397 (N0 model.)

To all whom, it may concern.:

Be it known that I, WALTER E. REULING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muscatine, in the county of Muscatine and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carton Machines;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use .invention consists, in combination with a suitable frame, of means for folding a blankfcarton in such manner that the longitudinal iiapA of one side is brought into contact with the contiguous side,means for automatically feeding carton-blanks to said folding means, and means for carrying the blanks past the same.

It also consists of certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a View in side elevation of a carton-making machine embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 represen-ts a transverse ve rtical section of the same, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents an enlarged detail view of the pasting mechanism, and Fig. 5 represents a similar view of the paste-scraper.

In carrying my invention into `practice I employ, as seen in the drawings, a suitable framework comprising supporting-legs, as 11, carrying a bed or table, as 2, at either end of which are arranged pairs of uprightstandards, as 3 3 and 4 4. Between each pair of standards 3 is mounted a journal-box, as 5, having journaled therein a suitable transverse shaft, as 6, carrying a'druni, as 7. Between each pair of standards 4 is also arranged a journalbox, as 8, carrying a transversely-arranged shaft, as 9,which shaft in turn carries a drum, as 10, and one of its projecting ends also carries a fixed power-pulley, as 11, receiving power from any suitable source by any preferred means, as a belt 12. An endless belt, as 13, is carried by'drums 7 and 10, and a longitudinally-arranged brace, as 14, connects the inner upright standards of the pairs 3 and 4 between the upper and lower portions of belt 13. Rotatably mounted upon the upper face of brace 14 are a plurality of rollers, as 15, supported in suitable journal-boxes, as 16 16, each of which boxes is supported by a spring, as 17, carried by brace 14 and pressed by a set-screw, as 18, whereby the tension of the springs may be controlled. Moving in suitable guides, as 19, connecting the bed 2 and brace 14 at either edge thereof, outside the edges of belt 13, is arranged a journalbox, as 20, supporting a roller, as 21, which is designed to be held in contact with the lower face of belt 13. Each of boxes 20 is sup-.

ported upon a suitable screw, as 22, threaded through bed 2 and designed to be screwed up or down to tighten or loosen belt 13, as desired.

Slidably mounted between the standards 3 above boxes 5 are arranged suitable journalboxes, as 23, carrying a roller, as 24, each of the said boxes being downwardly pressed by a spring, as 25, whose tension is governed by an attached screw, as 26, threaded through the upper brace, connecting the upper ends of the standards 3. Similarly arranged with respect to standards 4 are boxes 27, carrying a roller, as 28, and provided with tensioncontrolling springs, as 29, and screws, as 30,

operating in the same manner as the parts just described with reference to the standards 3. It will thus be seen that the rollers 24 and 23 will each rest normally upon that portion of belt 13 above the drums 7 and 10, respectively, but are capable of moving upwardly for permitting the passage of an article between the belt and the rollers.

A transversely-arranged rod, as 3l, is preferably rigidly lixed between the inner standards 3 and supports an arm, as 32, having an IOO eye, as 33, surrounding and pivotally engaging said rod 31, which eye carries set-screws, as 34 34, whereby the eye may be fixed against pivoting upon said rod at any desired point. The arm 32 preferably projects inwardly approximately on a horizontal plane and then turns downwardly to an approximate vertical plane and carries at its lower end a tongue, as 35, which is formed, preferably, of parallel slats or bars and provided with means, as slot-aud-pin engagement, with transverse connecting-bars, as 35 35', for permitting lateral adjustment thereof for increasing or decreasing the width of said tongue. The slats forming tongue 35 lie contiguous to or in contact with belt 13 for the greater portion of their length, the front ends thereof being curved upwardly for purposes to be described.

From each of the inner standards 3 laterally projects one end of a transversely-arranged rod, as 436, carrying a rotatablymounted eye, as 37, provided with aset-screw, as 38, for locking the same upon its respective end of rod 36 against movement. Pivotallj,7 secured to eyes 37 are rods, as 39 and 40, respectively, which rods curve upwardly and inwardly and have their free ends passed through links, as 41, after having been bent from a horizontal to a verticalplane, suitable set-screws, as 42 42, being threaded through the material of said link 41 and engaging said upwardly-bent ends for locking the same at any desired height for purposes hereinafter set forth. It will be seen by reference to Fig. l that the rod 40 risesslightly higher than rod 39, as will beset out hereinafter. The links 41 are provided with eyes, as 43, surrounding shaft 44, transversely arranged and secured to brackets or arms 45, carried by the upper transverse brace of the inner standards 4. Each of eyes 43-is provided with a setscrew 46, passed therethrough and contacting with shaft 44, whereby each link 41 may be locked in any given pivotal position.

Depending from the under face of the bed 2 is a suitable bracket, as 48, preferably bifurcated at its lower end and carrying a transversely-arranged shaft, as 49, which is designed to pivotally support levers, as and 51, between the arms of the bifurcation of said bracket 48. The lower end of lever 50 preferably carries a weight, as 52, which `surrounds the lever and is slidable longitudinally thereof and is provided with a set-screw, as 53, for engaging said lever for retaining the weight at a given point on the lever. Above the pivot-point the lever 50 carries a slidably-mounted collar, as 54, provided with a locking set-screw, as 55, and having secured thereto the lower end of a suitable spring, as which spring preferably has its upper end contacting the under face of bed 2, and the tension of said spring is controlled by a screw, as 56, threaded through bed 2 and engaging the upper end of the spring.

The outer free end of lever 50 is preferably slotted, as at 57, which slot is engaged by a pin, as 58, carried by a bracket, as 59, which bracket supports a table, as 60. It will be seen b v the structure just described that the table is designed to move vertically, the slot 57 permitting lever 50 to have its pivotal movement, while bracket 59 moves in a perfectly vertical plane, and in order to guide the table 60 in its movement suitable vertically-arranged rods, as 61 61, project downwardly from and are secured to the under face of said table and pass through guidinggrooves formed in laterally-projecting brackets, as 62 62.

A transverselyarranged stop, as 63, extends for the width of table 60 contiguous to the inner end thereof and supported by the outer standards 3. Also supported by the said outer standards by means of suitable brackets are longitudinally arranged side pieces, as 64, each of which is arranged approximate its respective side of table 60 but not contacting therewith, whereby said table may move up and down between the two side pieces.

Transversely mounted in suitable bearings in the side pieces 64 is a suitable, preferably serrated, feeding-roll, as 65, whose axle carries a power-pulley, as 66, receiving motion from a crossed belt, as 67, which belt is carried by a pulley, as 68, mounted upon one end of shaft 6, from which it receives motion.

A bracket, as 69, is supported by the outer standards 3 above table 60 and supports a transversely arranged shaft, as 7 0, which shaft is connected preferably by a chain and sprockets or other suitable power-conveying means with the axle of roller. The inner end of shaft 70, as seen in Fig. 2, extends preferably to a point approximately midway of the width of table 60 and carries an eccentric or suitable crank, as 71, carrying a suitable pitman, as 72, pivoted thereto and having its lower end free and provided with a penetrating-point for purposes hereinafter mentioned. The pitman 72 may be provided with any suitable guiding-bracket, as 73, for limiting the lateral movement of the pitman.

Lever 51 is provided near its lower end with a longitudinally-slidable weight, as 74, provided with a set-screw, as 75, for locking the weight at any desired point. Above the pivotpoint of lever 51 is arranged a slidably-mounted sleeve, as 76, provided with a locking setscrew, as 77, and designed to carry the lower end of a suitable spring, as 78. A suitable set-screw, as 79, is threaded through a portion of bed 2 and is designed. to contact with the upper end of spring 78 and to control the tension thereof, whereby the movement of lever 51 will be cushioned. The outer free end of lever 51 is arranged similarly to lever 50 with an elongated slot, as 80, engaged by a pin, as 81, carried by a bracket 82, supporting a table, as 83. Vertically-arranged rods, as 84 84, are secured to and extend downwardly from the under face of table 83 and pass through slidable guiding-grooves in brackets,

IIO

as 85 85, extending outwardly from the frame of the machine. It will thus be seen that table 83 is designed to move downwardly in a vertical plane for purposes hereinafter stated.

Pivotally supported by a transversely-arranged rod, as 86, is an arm 87, designed to have its lower free end normally resting upon the upper face of table 83, but automatically raising to permit the passage therebetween of an article brought into contact with said arm from the rear or under face thereof. An auxiliary preferably parallel arm, as 88, is carried by the upper face of arm 87, which auxiliary arm is preferably provided with an adjustable weight, as 89, the movement of which along the auxiliary arm is designed to increase or decrease the pressure of the free end of arm 87 upon the table 83 or the article supported thereby.

A swinging arm, as 90, is pivoted at 91 to the outer end of the lower bracket 85 and is provided near its lower end with a suitable weight, as 92, the upper end of said arm projecting above and contiguous to table 83 and designed to swing laterally away from the same, but to normally remain in a vertical position for purposes hereinafter described.

In operation any desired number of cartonblanks properly cut and scored are placed upon table 60, the weight 52 normally holding the upper blank in contact with the periphery or feeding-roller 65, with the inner edge of the blank contacting with stop 63, presu ming the belt 13 to be in motion', the rotation of roller not exerting sufficient pressure upon the carton-.blank to cause the same to jump the said stop. The pointed end of pitman 72, however, is now brought into contact with the upper blank and lifts the inner edge above the stop 63, the guiding-bracket causing the forward as well as upward swing of the pitman for imparting a forward movement to the blank, and the roller 65 is then able to feed the blank forward over said stop and between roller 23 and drum 7 or, more properly, belt 13. The removal of the top blank from table 60 sufficientlylightens the same toperinit theweight 52, acting through lever 50, to raise the said table until the second blank contacts with rolls 65, and the second and succeeding operations are precisely similar to the first, the stop 63, together with the feeding mechanism described, serving to prevent more than one blank being fed at a time. Near one end of drum 7, spaced therefrom and carried by shaft 6, is a paste-wheel, as 93, which has its periphery rotated within a paste-receptacle, as 94, arranged beneath the wheel, and when a heavy paste is employed a. supply-tube, as 95, extends laterally from receptacle 94, preferably turns upwardly, and carries at its upper end a paste-supply tank, as 96. A suitable weight, as 97, preferably restsupon the paste within tank 9b' for forcing the feed of the same into receptacle 94. A bifurcated scraper, as 98, is supported in any preferred manner, with the arms of the bifurcation passed on either side of wheel 93. Aset-screw, as 99,threaded through asupporting-bracket, as 190, is also threaded into scraper 98, whereby said scraper may be adjusted with respect to its relation to wheel 93 for governing the amount of paste carried by the periphery thereof. In further operation the carton-blank is caught by belt 13, passed beneath the front end of tongue 35, the upward curve of which facilitates such passage,which tongue is adjusted to approximately the width of two of the sides of the carton, whereby the two outer sides of the blank are caught by the rods 39 and 40, respectively, the side of the carton-blank on the side ot' the machine corresponding with rod 39 carrying the longitudinal edge-connecting flap, and the said 4iap having been brought, as the blank passed between roller 23 and belt 13, into contact 'with the periphery of paste-wheel 93, whereby it was given a coat of paste. As before stated, the rod 39 is lower than rod 40, whereby as the carton-blank is moved along tongue `35 the outer sides thereof are caused to lap,

with the pasted fiap beneath and its paste side up, whereby the opposite side of the blank is designed to extend above and be brought down upon the paste side of said flap and the parts secured together as the blank is passed ont between roller 28 and that portion of belt 13 passing over drum 10. It will be seen that in operating upon varying sizes of carton-blanks the rods 39 and40 will have to be adjusted to varying relations to the tongue 35 and to each other, which adjustments are accomplished by the pivotal connections of said rods, together with the link supporting the upper ends of the rods, and the rods are held in their adjusti ed positions by means of the set-screws, as will be seen from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the disclosure in the drawings. The carton-blanks are fed beneath roller 23 in rapid succession and of course are fed upon table 83 at a corresponding rate. Asl each carton is forced out upon table 83 it strikes against the under or rear face of arm 87, lifting the same and passing on until its edge strikes against arm 90, whereby it is stopped and held upon table 83 under the weight of arm 87, whereby should part of the paste be yet undry the same y will be given an opportunity to dry while the contiguous sides of the carton are held against each other by the said arm 87. As each succeeding carton is forced upon table 83 the table, by the weight of the carton, automatically moves downwardly, the weight 74 of lever 5l being so positioned as to eX- actly counterbalance any number of cartons upon table 83, with the upper face of the flat carton in the horizontal plane of belt 13, the weight of arm 87 of course being compensated for bythe position of weight 74.

When any desired number of cartons have been placed upon table 83 and it is desired to remove the same, the arm 90 is swung later- IOC IIO

ally against the weight 92 and upon its pivot 91 beyond the edge of table 83, whereby the cartons may be removed without contacting with said arm.

It will be apparent that carton-blanks may be fed at a very rapid rate to my improved mechanism, pasted, and removed with facility, and after such removal the cartons are ready to be filled and`have their end fiaps turned in for placing the contained goods upon the market, or the fiat condition of the cartons after undergoing the operation above described facilitates packing and shipment of the cartons themselves should such be desired.

It will of course be understood that although I have thus specifically set forth the details of my improved mechanism yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details of structure set forth, but shall feel at liberty to deviate therefrom to any degree within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is`

l. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a suitable frame,0f rods in either side thereof converging toward the center, one being arranged slightly above the other, a link engaged by the rear end of each of said rods, means for locking said ends at various vertical adjustments in such links, means for delivering a carton-blank to said rods in such manner that the free sides thereof will strike the respective rods and be moved longitudinallyofthe same for folding the sides together, substantially as described.

2. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a suitable frame, of rods extending longitudinally thereof at either side and converging toward the center, means for adjusting the carton-blank contacting the ends of vsaid rods and retaining the same at various heights with respect to the frame While the opposite ends thereof remain in the same plane, and means for passing cartonblanks longitudinally of said rods with their free sides contacting therewith, substantially as described.` A i 3. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a suitable frame, of drums mounted near each end thereof, an endless belt carried thereby, cushioned rollers supporting the upper portion of said belt, a roller slidably mounted in said frame above each of said drums, means for feeding cartonblanks t0 said belt between one of said drums and its roller, means for applying paste to the attaching, longitudinal flap of said blank, means for folding said blank in such manner as to bring the edge of one of the free sides into contact with the pasted flap, and means for receiving the blanks after they have been pasted and passed out between the other drum and its roller, substantially as described.

4. In a mechanism of the class described the combination with a suitable frame,of rods pivoted on either side thereof and converging toward the center, means for adjusting the free ends of said rods vertically, independently of each other, links engaging and supporting the free ends of said rods, means carried by the links for locking the said ends in their various positions, means for delivering carton-blanks beneath said rods in such manner that the sides thereof will strike the respective rods for eecting their folding, substantially as described.

5. In a mechanism of the class described the combination with a suitable frame, of rods extending longitudinally thereof at eitherside and converging toward the center, means pivotally supporting said rods for permitting the same to swing in a vertical plane, pivotal links engaging the free ends of said rods, means carried by the links for locking said rods in various horizontal planes, and means for passing carton-blanks longitudinally of said rods with their free sides contacting therewith, substantially as described.

6. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a verticallymovable table' at one end thereof, means for guiding said table in its movement, a lever pivoted in said frame and carrying said table at one end, and means at the opposite end of said lever for counterbalancing the weight of said table and its contents, whereby the table is designed to move upwardly upon the removal of any of its contents, a stop, extending transversely of said table for the widthof the same at its inner end, supported contiguous to the table but not in contact therewith, and means for feeding carton-blanks placed upon said table over the said stop, substantially as described.

7. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a frame, ofa verticallymovable table at one end thereof, side pieces supported contiguous said table, a feed-roller mounted upon said sides, means for rotating said roller, means for maintaining the uppermost article supported by said table in contact with said roller, a stop for preventing the forward feed of the articles supported by the table, a pitman supported above said table and provided with a penetrating point designed to enter the uppermost of said supported articles, and means for gyrating said pitman for lifting said top article above said stop for permitting the forward feed of the same, substantially as described.

8. In a mechanism ofr the class described,I

the combination witha frame, means for folding and pasting carton-blanks and means for feeding the same beyond the operating parts, of a vertically-movable table outside said feeding means designed vto receive the' cartons operated upon, a pivotally-supported arm designed to rest upon the cartons fed to said table, and means for supporting said ta- IOO IIO'

ble and automatically permitting its lowering as each successive carton is placed thereon,

whereby the upper face of the top carton is always maintained in the same horizontal 5 plane of the feeding mechanism.

9. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a feedingtable, means for imparting a forwardly-moving tendency to the uppermost article supported by said table, a stop for preventing the forward feed of the article, and a pitman formed with a penetrating point for engaging the articles upon said table for lifting the said articles successively above said stop, substantially as described.

I0. In a mechanism of the class described the combination of an article-supporting table, feeding means contacting with the said article, means preventing forward feed of said article, a pitman designed to engage the same, and means for gyrating said pitman for freeing said article for permitting its forward feed, substantially as described.

ll. In amechanism of the class described the combination with a suitable frame, carrying carton-blank-folding means, of a receiving-table mounted to move vertically in said frame, counterbalanced means supporting said table with the upper face of the top carton carried thereby in the horizontal plane of the discharge from said folding mechanism, and means for governing the position of the folded cartons as they are fed to said table, substantially as described.

l2. In a mechanism of the class described the combination with suitable carton-blankfolding mechanism and a receiving-table for said blanks, of a weighted arm pivotally supported to swing in a vertical plane transversely of the said mechanism, the upper end of said arm extending above the outer end of said table for forming a stop for the cartons placed upon the table, substantially as described.

18. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a suitable frame, of a feeding-table, means for imparting a forwardly-moving tendency to the uppermost article upon said table, a stop for preventing the forward feed of said articles, a pitman designed to engage the articles for lifting the same successively over said stop, and guiding means for said pitman whereby a forward as well as upward movement will be given the article operated upon, substantially as described.

In testimony Whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of witnesses.

WALTER E. REULING.

Witnesses:

J. CARSKADDAN, H. D. HORST, J. R. REULING. 

